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Balcom, N. C., E. M. Rohmer, 1994. "Zebra Mussel Awareness and Boat Use Patterns Among Boaters Using Three "High Risk" Connecticut Lakes", University of Connecticut, Oberlin College, Connecticut Sea Grant College Program "Zebra Mussel Awareness and Boat Use Patterns Among Boaters Using Three "High Risk" Connecticut Lakes"Summary: During the summer 1993, 325 interviews were conducted with boaters using seven boat ramps on Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar. At the conclusion of the interview, boaters were given a zebra mussel alert card, listing telephone numbers of key Sea Grant contacts in the Northeast, and a card with basic information on boat cleaning to minimize transportation of aquatic nuisance species like zebra mussels from one waterbody to the next Fishermen (95.4%) had the greatest awareness of zebra mussels; many (75.9%) also knew that their boats and fishing activities could be a means for spreading the mussels. Far fewer pleasure boaters (69.2%) knew of the mussels or that boats were a potential dispersal mechanism (30.9%). Jet ski operators (44.7%) had little or no knowledge about the mussels or their transport (19.2%). The majority of fishermen interviewed were not using live aquatic baits. Most had some type of live well on board, and a small number planned to bring fish home in lake water. "Drying out" periods between boat uses averaged eight days, with fishing boats averaging seven days and jet skis, four days. In contrast, boaters were more optimistic as to when the boat would be used next, averaging two days. With few exceptions, boats were kept on trailers at home. Boats that had been or were expected to be used on another waterbody on the same day were relatively few in number and predominantly jet skis. Multiple daily uses occurred between the three lakes only. Most of the boats had been previously used on the lake of the interview location, or on one of the other two lakes targeted by the survey. Just over 5% of the boats had been previously used out-of-state, the majority in New York, which has zebra mussels. Some of these boats had been used a day or two before in New York, but only one of the four waterbodies named (Hudson River) has confirmed zebra mussel populations. Although the number of out-of-state boaters interviewed was small, 62 fishing derby permits for these lakes were issued to non-residents, emphasizing the amount of interstate boat traffic. Entire Paper |